Light and Shadows is the second book of Perez's that I have had the absolute privilege and joy to read. I was trying desperately to think of a word that adequately sums up this author's use of the English language. Her style is so rich and full. After much thought I decided the word that most adequately describes this book's warmth and sheer joy in the written word, is lustrous.

This book simply wraps you up in a warm blanket and takes you to a place where all things are perfect and wonderful. In her two books I've read Perez writes unashamedly about love and the perfection of love to overcome all obstacles. I am not necessarily a hopeless romantic, but when I read her work I feel those passionate feelings that she so lovingly imparts on a page.

Light and Shadows is a modern day tale of two beautiful, young, actresses Teresa and Eloisa who are both courted and loved by two wealthy Mexican businessmen who are the epitome of style, sophistication and gentlemanliness. Sound formulaic? I guess in some respects it may be, but Perez's ability to infuse a specialness into the story that I have found from no other author is what lifts this and her other stories well above the standard romance. This is a beautiful, towering story of love and happiness. I was entranced by the four main characters from go to whoa.

If anything, I felt the period setting was perhaps slightly amiss for the character's personalities. I could well picture all four of these characters living and loving in perhaps the 1920's, but this was set in modern day New York. That aside, it was a wonderful story, beautifully told.

There is a minor issue with language that does bear a mention. I'm unsure if Perez is a natural English speaker, but she does sometimes betray the tendency of those for whom English is a second language to confuse tenses from time to time and to misuse commonly confused English usage words. There are also a number of minor typos within the story and it could probably use a quick, professional edit.

I do want to make it clear, that those minor imperfections did in no way detract from my love of this book and my admiration for its author. Any other book with these imperfections would probably have only garnered four stars from me, but the beauty of the writing and the depth of the character descriptions plus the sheer pleasure I got from reading this book ensure that it got the full five star treatment from me.

Estela Vasquez Perez, you are now right at the top of my favourite "indie" author reading list. I think your talent is abundant and I look forward to reading more and more of your work.